The day was March 18th, 2020. I had just completed an advocacy exam (unbeknown to me, my last in person exam when) I got a message from my friend telling me that if I wanted to go home, I needed to book my flight ASAP because the borders were closing. I was so confused when I saw her message because I was just trying to treat myself after my exam, not pack up my entire life and move back home months earlier than I had anticipated.

Fast forward to a few days later. I made it home on the LAST direct flight from England to The Bahamas before borders were closed. Ain’t God good?!

One week later, I was completing 2 exams online and 2 weeks later online classes began. It was honestly a struggle for me, mainly because I had a class at 6:30 am. Yip, you read that right. The U.K. is 5 hours ahead of The Bahamas so the 11:30 am Company Law class was dreaded every Thursday morning at 6:30 am. It was actually supposed to be earlier than that but they changed the time to accommodate me so I’ won’t complain too much butttttt it was rough!

TOP 7 TIPS FOR SURVIVING ZOOM

After surviving two months of online classes and exams, here are some of my tips for surviving the Zoom (or Microsoft Teams). While this is geared toward students, this can apply to those working from home who are completely worn out from Zoom meetings.

1. Prepare

Complete your reading and assignments for the class. Your teacher may decide to pick on you so don’t get caught slipping. Be prepared to answer any questions that your teacher may ask by reading about the topic ahead of time.

2. Dress the part

If you’re going to class online, you should dress properly, at least put on a shirt. I’ll be honest, I was wearing a nice blouse with pyjama/pajama bottoms lol. You may be asked to turn on your camera so it’s better to be safe than sorry. Also, getting ready as if it was a regular school day may help in boosting your motivation for class.

3. Eliminate distractions

I’ll be honest, I was guilty of scrolling through social media while my teacher taught the class but I learned quickly that if I wanted to understand what was being taught I needed to pay attention. Get rid of your distractions to ensure you get the most out of the class. If you’re passively listening to what the teacher is saying while you’re scrolling and tapping like on a picture on instagram you may miss important information.

4. Participate

When your teacher throws out questions for the class, be engaging. Answer questions and ask questions. I know, I know. It’s scary to answer questions because you don’t want to say the wrong answer but try your best to at least say one thing in each class. This will not only help your teacher to feel like they’re not talking to themselves but it will assist you in understanding the information being taught. It will also help you to be more alert. So go ahead, raise your hand…or for zoom purposes unmute your mic.

5. Make notes

I’ll be honest. I fall asleep a lot so to avoid catching a snooze while your teacher talks her.his heart about a company going insolvent or how to answer quadratic equations, make notes. Making notes will also ensure that you have information to come back to later to aid in your studying. If you made notes in face to face classes, you should be doing the same in online classes.

6. Reward yourself

Remember that 6:30 am class I told you about earlier? The minute that class ended I rewarded myself by going back to sleep! Honestly, online classes are draining so it’s important to reward yourself, whether it’s with a sweet treat or even just going back to sleep like me.

7. Have a positive mindset

Most importantly, go to your online class with an open mind. Stay positive. You won’t just survive online classes, you will thrive! Be positive about how the online experience is going to be. Also, be positive about your outcome in the class. You will do great this school year!

You won’t just survive online classes, you will thrive!

-Scharsmind

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You can do it. I believe in you!

For tips on how to manage your Mental Health in University check out the mental health blog here. If you have any questions please feel free to reach out to me. I would be happy to assist you in any way I can.

When you start doubting yourself, remember who you are. Doubt your doubts and remember you gat’ this! Have an amazing school year.